Hexapla in Danielem: that is, A six-fold commentarie vpon the most diuine prophesie of Daniel wherein according to the method propounded in Hexapla vpon Genesis and Exodus, sixe things are obserued in euery chapter. 1. The argument and method. 2. The diuers readings. 3. The questions discussed. 4. Doctrines noted. 5. Controversies handled. 6. Morall observations applyed. Wherein many obscure visions, and diuine prophesies are opened, and difficult questions handled with great breuitie, perspicuitie, and varietie ... and the best interpreters both old and new are therein abridged. Diuided into two bookes ... By Andrevv Willet Professour of Diuinitie. The first booke.

62. Quest. How Christ is said to be the stone cut out without hands.

1. Augustine by this mountaine vnderstandeth the people of the Iewes, de quo monte exciditur, nisi de regno Iudaeorum? out of what mountaine is he cut, but out of the kingdome of the Iewes? Tractat. 9. in Ioann. but at what time Christ was borne, the kingdome of the Iewes beeing fallen into the hands of a stranger, when according to Iaakobs prophesie, the scepter was gone from Iudah, could not be compared to a mountaine.

2. Ambrose reading, in stead of the stone cut out of the mountaine (the mountaine cut out of the mountaine without hands) expoundeth it of the eternall generation of Christ of the father; mons de monte sine manibus, hoc est filius de patre sine aliquo creationis accessu, the mountaine cut of the mountaine without hands, that is the sonne of the father without any creation, &c. Sermon. 7. So also Iustinus Martyr vnderstandeth it of the eternall generation of Christ.* 1.1 But Daniel here speaketh of a kingdome to be raised vp by God, it had then a

beginning: but the kingdome of Christ as he is the sonne of God, had no beginning: this therfore must be vnderstood of Christs kingdom as he is the Mediatour both God and man.

3. Hyppolitus referreth it to Christs second comming, and that clause without hands, sig∣nifieth, secundum Christi adventum fore improvisum, that the second comming of Christ shal be sudden, &c. so also Osiander, it signifieth that Christ the rocke subito superventurum, shall come suddenly to iudgement: but this cannot be vnderstood of Christs second comming, as is before shewed, Qu. 51. because this stone after it is cut out shall grow into a mountaine, and fill all the earth: but the knowledge of Christ shall haue filled all the earth, before his se∣cond comming.

4. But most interpreters doe interpret it of the miraculous generation of Christ of the virgin Marie: so Hierome, Theodoret, Lyran. Vatab. and without hands, signifieth, sine opera∣tione humana, without the helpe of man: and the virgin Marie is compared to a mountaine, propter excellentiam virtutum, because of the excellencie of her vertue. Pintus.

5. Bullinger putteth these together, vnderstanding by the word mountaine, partim lo∣cum excelsum, &c. partly the high place of heauen, partly the people of the Iewes, because he was borne of the virgin Marie, &c.

Contra. 1. But this cannot be so applied to the virgin Marie, for shee in no sense can be said to be a mountaine in respect of Christ, and he to be a small stone in respect of her: Marie was no waies greater then her sonne. 2. Although Christ was borne of Marie without the companie of man, yet his naturall generation was not altogether without the helpe of man∣kind, because he was borne of a woman: and therefore Iustinus better applieth these words to Christs eternall generation, which was altogether without hands: it was non humanum opus, sed diuinae voluntatis propositum, no humane worke, but the decree and purpose of the diuine will. 3. The words are not as they are vsually read, cut out without hands, but cut out of the mountaine (which is not in hands) that is, which stone is not at all guided or framed with hands: that is, Christs kingdome and gouernment is not administred by any humane policie: this is then to be vnderstood, not of the manner of Christs birth, but of the admini∣stration of his kingdome.

6. Wherefore the meaning is, he was cut out of the mountaine, that is, è coelis, & loco Dei altissimi, he was sent from heauen, from the place of the highest, Iun. Polan. divinitus missus est, he was sent from God, Calvin. And therefore it is here said, the God of heauen shall set him vp. Our blessed Sauiour also to the same purpose saith, Ioh. 3. 13. No man hath ascended to heauen, but he which descended from heauen, the sonne of man, which is in heauen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Dialog. cum Tryphon.